The Article Purpose
The article “Eat Turkey, Become American” by Marie Myung-Ok Lee (2014) was selected for the term-long critical analysis project. The author elaborates on her and her parent’s experiences as a Korean immigrant family in the United States. Lee (2014) talks about the hardships her parents faced when they fled Korea after World War II and became immigrants in the US.
She illustrates Thanksgiving with its annual traditions as a symbol of American prosperity and safety that her parents wanted to provide to her. Although her parents have never talked about Korea and their experiences as immigrants, the author acknowledges the importance of her cultural identity. Therefore, the article’s primary purpose is to describe racial discrimination, the difficulties of assimilation, and the significance of cultural preservation.
The Evidence That Supports the Author’s Purpose
The evidence that led me to the conclusion is the memories of the author’s parents’ immigration story and her emotions related to the matter. Lee (2014) gives details of her parents’ lives before and during their immigration, as well as the story of their assimilation and hardships. She also elaborates on her perspectives on the situation and her attitudes toward her cultural heritage.
Audience
I believe that the author is writing primarily for a broader audience of American citizens who have no history of immigration. She wants to illustrate that immigrants experience difficulties and often face acceptance obstacles. However, they are the same people who only want to achieve better conditions for themselves and their families.
Additionally, the author may refer to all the Korean immigrants in the US who can feel isolated due to their origins. She wants to show that they are not alone and their problems are shared. The potential challenge in addressing the purpose with the audience is the persistent racial discrimination that can prevent people from understanding the original meaning of the piece.
Reference
Lee, M. M. (2014). Eat Turkey, Become American. The New York Times. Web.